School Incursions - Professional Development & Outdoor Classrooms

Nature Play WA is excited to be offering a range of education based, pedagogical professional learning opportunities, delivered at your school or early learning centre.

Want to experience our Engaging Outdoor Learning workshops at your school or early learning centre? Our school-based incursions and outdoor classrooms workshops offer educators (Teachers, Administrators, Education Assistants and Student Teachers) and their students the opportunity to explore the possibilities of using outdoor spaces in their school and local community as learning spaces and Outdoor Classrooms and the confidence to engage with Nature Pedagogy.

Maths learning area-specific outdoor games with natural materials introduced and used in the incursion

Introduction and explanation to whole group by our two educators

Students working in groups between multiple learning stations (our educators will model and assist class)

Whole group reflection of skills and outdoor classroom lead by our educators

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Professional Learning Workshops

Professional Learning Workshops we can deliver at your school or early learning centre include:

Designing a Nature School Space - Professional Learning Incursion

This workshop is designed to inspire and kick start creativity in establishing a play-based outdoor classroom. Using information from Professor David Sobel on children’s play motifs, educators will play themselves to create models of outdoor learning spaces that support the Early Years Framework. The workshop also explores some of the barriers to learning outside and how risk, organisation and supervision can be reframed to create success in a school or early learning centre environment.This workshop is designed to inspire and kick start creativity in establishing a play-based outdoor classroom. Using information from Professor David Sobel on children’s play motifs, educators will play themselves to create models of outdoor learning spaces that support the Early Years Framework. The workshop also explores some of the barriers to learning outside and how risk, organisation and supervision can be reframed to create success in a school or early learning centre environment.

Simple Numeracy Lessons for a Nature School

One of the simplest ways to start an outdoor classroom is to transplant lessons usually conducted indoors, to the outdoors. This workshop will explore research on the state of childhood and stories of outdoor classrooms from Australian and around the world. Educators will go outside the four walls to participate in outdoor lessons focussed on exploring numeracy using natural objects. This workshop with provide the inspiration and ideas you need to start teaching outside straight away.

Loose Parts Play in a Nature School

You don’t need to wait for an outdoor nature playspace to be built before you explore learning and playing with natural materials. In this workshop, educators discover the importance of outdoor loose parts play and its place in both the Early Years Framework and Australian Quality Standards. Using Piaget’s Child Development Schemas, educators will have the opportunity to play with small loose parts and create different ways to extend childrens’ play. Educators will look at ideas to organise space that will both support management of resources and childrens’ physical activity needs.

Nature Play WA contracts the services of Educated by Nature to provide educational consultation and professional learning services. In 2014, Daniel Burton and Trudi Bennett established the social enterprise, Educated by Nature, drawing on their experience teaching in outdoor settings. Their mission is to provide opportunities for families and schools to spend time in nature, developing connections with the environment, each other and themselves. This connection is important for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and they believe that this connection is what builds resilience.

Trudi Bennett

Trudi grew up finding both solace and adventure in her backyard and local bushland. She studied both Sustainable Development and Education and has worked with a variety of organisations in science communication, community development and the arts. Recently Trudi has been a primary school and kitchen garden teacher at Bold Park Community School in Western Australia. It was here she practiced observing and listening to children to identify their needs and established project-based learning opportunities. While there she also began utilising natural resources and spaces for environmental art and social connection. As a result, Trudi became increasingly passionate about teaching children in the outdoors. She continues to explore and observe how the building of cubby villages provides a way for children to grow independence and a sense of ownership, while working together as a community. Her interests, training and experience have set a firm foundation for her role at Educated by Nature.

Daniel Burton

Daniel is a qualified primary school teacher and passionate nature connection mentor. He considers himself an advocate for connecting children with the natural world, following children’s inbuilt sense of wonder and curiosity as the vehicle to inspire the process of inquiry based learning. Having worked at Bold Park Community School for 10 years he has had experience developing, managing and coordinating outdoor classrooms and Wild Spaces with various age groups. Daniel has had the privilege of participating in conferences focused on nature-based education and 21st century teaching philosophies both locally and internationally. Currently, Daniel is the co-director of Educated by Nature which aims to provide Western Australian children, families and teachers opportunities to learn within nature.

Want to find out more about our School Incursions - Outdoor Classrooms?

Register Your Interest and one of our educators will be in touch to find out more about your school or early learning centre's needs!